-LRB- CNN -RRB- -- Matt Sandusky stood in solidarity with his adoptive father , Jerry Sandusky , while a grand jury investigated multiple allegations of child rape against the former Penn State assistant football coach .

Matt Sandusky told the grand jury nothing inappropriate had ever happened to him . And he sat with the rest of the family early in Jerry Sandusky 's recent trial .

But last week brought a bombshell that shook the proceedings : Matt Sandusky , 33 , was now willing to testify that the man he first met through the Second Mile charity repeatedly molested him while he was a child , according to Matt Sandusky 's lawyers . The revelation kept Jerry Sandusky from taking the stand in his own defense .

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Portions of a 29-minute interview police had with Matt Sandusky during the middle of the trial were broadcast Tuesday on NBC , which obtained the audiotape . Jurors never heard the tape .

Detectives asked Matt Sandusky why he was now willing to cooperate .

`` I mean for my family so that they can really have closure and see what the truth actually is , '' Matt Sandusky said . `` And just to right the wrong , honestly , of going to the grand jury and lying . ''

In the police interview , Matt Sandusky said that he was molested between the ages of 8 and 15 , that he tried to escape from the Sandusky home and once attempted suicide .

`` I know that I really wanted to die at that point and time , '' he said , according to the audio obtained by NBC News .

Matt Sandusky , a foster child formally adopted at 18 , also described Jerry Sandusky rubbing , hugging and showering with him .

`` If you were pretending you were asleep and if you were touched or rubbed in some way you could just act like you were rolling over in your sleep , so that you could change positions , '' said Matt Sandusky . The defendant would sometimes rub near and against his genitals , he told police .

The potential witness said he could not recall penetration or oral sex .

It was only days before the commonwealth rested , and after some alleged victims had testified , according to Matt Sandusky 's lawyers , that he told them he was abused and wanted to cooperate with prosecutors .

The younger Sandusky 's willingness to testify as a rebuttal witness created a dilemma for Jerry Sandusky 's defense team .

They wanted their client to testify after the jury heard damning testimony from eight alleged victims , but they decided it against it .

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`` To put Jerry on the stand and have Matt come in and testify against him it would destroy any chance of an acquittal , '' co-defense counsel Joe Amendola told reporters Friday night after his client was convicted of 45 of 48 sexual abuse charges against him .

Amendola said that Jerry Sandusky , 68 , denied ever having inappropriate contact with Matt .

By not putting Jerry Sandusky on the stand , the defense ensured that Matt Sandusky would not testify .

The younger Sandusky 's attorneys , Justine Andronici and Andrew Shubin , released a statement about the recording .

`` This tape demonstrates Matt 's tremendous courage and strength as he begins to disclose that Jerry Sandusky sexually abused him when he was a child , '' they said . `` Although the tape was released without Matt 's knowledge or permission , it illustrates that he made the difficult decision to come forward and tell the painful truth to investigators despite extraordinary pressure to support his father . ''

The audiotape 's leak was the main subject of a meeting hastily called Tuesday by trial Judge John Cleland and attended by prosecutors , defense attorneys and even the judge who has overseen the grand jury that 's investigated the Sandusky case , a source with knowledge of the meeting told CNN National Correspondent Susan Candiotti .

No one at the meeting took responsibility for sharing the tape with the media , the source told CNN . Jerry Sandusky 's defense team was asked to turn over its copy of the tape , but it will remain available to them .

Cleland ordered that any discovery turned over to the defense in the Sandusky case be sealed unless it was put into evidence at trial . He also said defense attorneys shall give a sworn statement within 10 days as to what materials they received and who they have given it to .

The judge is trying to protect the current investigation and the privacy of the victims and witnesses .

Neither prosecutors nor defense attorneys , who have vowed an appeal , would comment on Tuesday 's meeting .

Matt Sandusky 's grand jury testimony remains a secret . Amendola said months ago he was not concerned about what the man said before the grand jury .

Karl Rominger , another defense attorney , had a jailhouse visit with Jerry Sandusky on Monday .

`` I 'm innocent , '' said Jerry Sandusky , in answer to questions CNN 's Candiotti asked of him through his lawyer . `` I did n't do it , '' he said , according to Rominger .

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Rominger says Sandusky was bothered he did n't get to testify . But Jerry Sandusky does n't regret his decision , according to his lawyer .

Sandusky , who was allowed Monday to call his wife , Dottie , is not allowed visitors until a psychiatric examination is completed that also will determine whether he remains on suicide watch , according to Rominger .

`` Some of the guards are friendly and will talk with him . Others do n't talk to him at all , '' according to Rominger .

Sandusky is allowed out of the small cell -- which features a toilet , sink and bed -- once a day to take a shower .

`` He 's come up with exercises to keep active , '' his lawyer told CNN . `` Enough to work up a sweat . ''

InSession 's Jessica Thill contributed to this report .

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NBC News obtains audiotape of police interview with Matt Sandusky

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Matt Sandusky was willing to be rebuttal witness in trial of his adoptive father

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Jerry Sandusky decided not to testify in his own defense

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Now convicted , he remains under suicide watch at jail